The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-20
FOB THE CITY'S WELFARE
Formation of a League Of Citizens for
the Promotion of Public Interests.
It's Special Purpose, However, Will Be the
Suppression of Crime and Aiding in the
Prosecution of Law-Breakers.

Meetings elsewhere detracted somewhat from
the attendance at Pfaf1in's Hall last night,
where the citizens interested in the formation of
law and order league met to hear the report
of their committee on preliminary organization.
While there were not more than thirty present,
the speeches and report elected the earnest at
tention of all, showing that the movement.
when once under way, will receive a strong sup
port from tho Sc who favor the strict enforce
ment of tho laws. j. B. Conner presided,
and directly after his calling the
meeting to order General Coburn.
Of the committee named, submitted re-
port in which the opinion is expressed that 1t is
expedient and desirable that a league of citizens
having at heart the present and future welfare
Of the city should be formed. '"The capital OF
the State" the report further sets forth. "can
not afford to tolerate a lack of the enforcement
OF the STATUTES, ordinances and regulations
which have been established for
the protection OF life and property. the
administration OF justice the punishment
of crime. the preservation of peace. the promo
ton Of good morals, the care OF the public health
and the proper administration of our charitable
and educational nstitutons. A healthy condi-
ton OF affairs in connection with these subjects
is not brought about by the mere action of the
officers in charge Of their administration. The
people have share in the dis
charge of these important duties req uiring
care oversight. inspection, report and demand
for reform, when needed. No intelligent and
free people can do less, and perpetuate the pur-
ity of their government and secure it's highest
benefits. This community has gone to a great
expense in erecting buildings for courts, county
offices, markets, hi III and common schools, the
poor, hospitals, asylrms, and prisons;
has graded and paved hundreds of
water, light and sewerage in a style of magnif-
cence unsurpassed in any place of it's size. and
scarcely equaled on the continent But all these
efforts comparatively vain without healthy,
honest, intelligent, vigorous and conscientious
administration of their internal affairs They
must be carefully and wisely managed within.
and they must be constantly and seduously
watched without. We believe the day has
come when this duty should be done by an or
ganzaton of active. fearless. intelligent, benev-
olent and just men and women. and we recon-
mend the adoption OF preliminary ar ticles Of as
ISOLATION"
The report briefly gives these articles the first
of which supplies the name THE Law and Or
der League of Indianapolis.n The second
enumerates the objects Of the association. which
are to promote the public peace and advance the
welfare of the city. to aid in the enforcement of
the law and the prevention and suppression of
its violations, to give moral support to the
faithful execution of all the statutes Of the State
and the ordinances and regulations Of the city,
and to encourage al! educational
and charitable institutions in their work
radical remedies for the extinction of vice and
crime The usual officers provided for in
this plen which places their election annually
the last Wednesday in November. To the
officers are entrusted the drafting of a constitu-
ton and bylaws, sui ject to amendment by a
quorum at any meeting of the association. All
citizens can become members petition. which
must be indoreed by quorum at any meeting
of the association.
General Cobura said the committee did
not feel justified in going further than
this towards an organization. The COM
pletion of that work could DO better per-
formed by the association itself. It first
proposed to limit the object of the association
the suppression OF crime but the committee
thought after careful consideration that it ought
extend to everything affecting the welfare of
the city. The General referred es-
system, the violations of Sunday laws by many
who not saloon keepers. fast driving and the
repeated violation OF the or3inaLces regulating
the passage of trains through the city. The
association would give the officers moral
support without which they in a manner
powerlesa 1t is better to have no law at all
than have Of the "i'hs sommunt the
Many things might have been prevented
II all good citizens had exerted the proper in
tofore But now the moral and immoral tenden-
cies have become aggressive. People not
standing still as they did few years ago. look
ine on indiferently at violations of law and
abuses of privileges. Men who do their duty
now must be moro firm and aggressive than
heretofore. He also spoke of the need Of wom-
ans cooperation in this work.
VIM. P. Fishback advised postponement OF
action the report until the committee OF one
hundred keld its annual meeting, which would
occur a week from next Monday. That organ
ization had been formed in the time of great
political excitement tor a specific purpose, but
there is feeling favornc its continuance in a
permanent form. 1t has been proposed to en-
large the functions of the committee, and this
can be done at the coming meeting when a re-
organization will doubt be effected a
broader basis 1t is possible it will become the
organization with similar purposes might
conflict with the work that some
of the committee of ono hundred. AS for him
self, if the two should exist be would belong to
both. The help of citizens in enforcing the
laws 10 distinctly marked in other cities. notably
San Francisco, where what is called the Commit
tee of Necessity ia active in secret work, as its
members not known and all its transactions
in Furnishing criminals of prominence held
from the public until the trials occur. This is
the only city. said Mr.. Fishback. that has not
yet sent any Of its great criminals to the peni-
tentiary.
Rev. r. V. Hunter said he did not care what
the association was called, who its
officers, the work was done. The good effect
OF such organizations were seen in Richmond.
Fort Wayne and Bloomington, Ill. In Fort
Wayne it is driving crime and criminals to the
wall, and in Richmond the whole municipal
government has been reformed.
Rev. DR.. Mcleod thought the number pres
ent was not indicative of the feeling of the peo-
pie on this subject. The late election bet
ter expression. The people willing to en-
trust this work to the committee of hun
dred which has already done we'll Everyone
should join heart and hand in supporting that
committee if it saw tit to adopt the suggestions
made in the report just read.
Captain Ritter said care should DO taken to
avoid q conflict of interests and ideas. One or
ganization would be better than two, and he |
believed the committee of one hundred desired |
to enlarge its scope Of service. But this work
must be done by some organization, for |
men OF influence who commit crimes
have no fear of officers, but they
dread even three citizens who are |
striving to have the laws enforced He favored |
n postponemsnt Of the matter, as suggested, |
which afterwards took the form of a motion from
DR. Mcleod It was adopted. with the under